Method of and apparatus for curing hams and the like



1 1951 MQTRACHTMAN EIAL 2,992,926

MEMO?) 0F mm APPARATUS Fonz swarms was AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1958 M RRIS mArflrMA/v United States Patent 2,992,926 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CURING HAMS AND THE LIKE Morris Trachtman, Philadelphia, and Arnold S. Zitin,

Wynnewood, Pa., assignors to Morris Trachtman, Philadelphia, Pa., Arnold S. Zitin, Wynnewood, Pa., and Bernard C. Zitin, Merion, Pa., as trustees Filed Jan. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 561,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 99-159) The present invention is concerned generally with sealing the carcass of an animal against egress of a fluid medium injected into the carcass for preserving the same and particularly with an improved apparatus and method for constricting the small end or neck of a ham, shoulder or the like for closing the vascular tract to prevent egress of brine injected into the vascular tract at the large end or butt of the ham.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide fluid pressure operated apparatus for constricting the small end or neck of a ham, shoulder or the like for closing the vascular tract to prevent egress of brine injected into the vascular tract at the large end or butt of the ham.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a method of closing or sealing the shank end of a ham to facilitate injection of a curing liquid, by circumambiently compressing or constricting the shank end of the ham.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus wherein the constricting means is normally distended for receiving the neck or shank of the ham or shoulder and can be drawn more or less tightly about the neck or shank with the expenditure of a minimum of time and no effort on the part of the operator. a

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a rigid base section that includes a horizontally extending rectangular top 1%, flanges 11b12b that depend from opposite sides of the top 10b, and flanges 13b-14b that depend respectively from the front and rear of the top 10b.

At the rear of this base section is a multiple-section constricting device designated generally by the numeral 72, which device comprises stationary section 73 and a shiftable section 74. The stationary section 73 is an upright rectangular rigid plate the lower end of which is disposed in side abutting relation to the flange 14b of the base section, being secured thereto as by screws 75. Mounted on the back of the stationary section 73 are a pair of horizontally extending track members 7676 associated respectively with the opposite end portions of the section 73 and disposed in parallel spaced relation. Each member 76 extends across the section 73 and a substantial distance freely beyond the inner vertically extending edge thereof.

The shiftable section 74 likewise is an upright rectangular rigid plate, being disposed to the rear of the track members 7676, with its inner vertically extending edge approximately alined with the inner vertically extending edge of the section 73.

For shiftably mounting the section 74 upon the track members 7676, the section 74 is provided with a set of four roller 'asemblies 77, one at each corner thereof.

And still another important object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus wherein the pressure means is operative to draw the constricting means about the neck or shank of the ham or shoulder, maintain the same in such condition untilthe pressure; isf relieved by the operator after the operation of injecting the barn is completed, and again distend the constricting means to release the ham or shoulder.

A further object of the present invention is toprovide such an apparatus which is comparatively simple in de- 1 the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in the accompany drawings andjas finally pointed out in the appended claims. i j

In the following drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, part being broken away to expose certain details;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 and shows in phantom outline a ham clamped therein with pickling brine being injected at the butt end;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the operative connection between the fluid pressure means and a. movable section of the constricting means; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of FIG- UR'E 3.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 through 5,, one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention has Each assembly 77 comprises a roller shaft 78 one end of which is fixedly anchored to the section 74 as at 79 and the other end of which projects laterally from the section 74 and mounts a roller 80. The latter is freely revoluble on the roller shaft 78 and is suitably secured against axial shifting movement. The track members 7676 are each generally U-shaped in transverse cross section, being provided with a base wall 81 and a pair of legs 8282, corresponding free end portions of which legs turn inwardly as at 8383. The base walls 81'81 of the tracks 76--76 are secured to the section 73 as by screws :84 that project through the base walls 81-81. The rollers are operatively embraced by the tracks 7676, as best shown in FIGURE 5, and the ends of the tracks 76- 76 are closed as by plates 85. The vertically extending proximate sides of the sections 73-74 are recessed and fitted respectively with a pair of L-shaped members 86- 86 that conjointly form a rectangular opening 87a the diagonals of which extend respectively horizontally and vertically.

The section 74 has secured thereto one end of a rod 87 that extends freely through a slot 88 which is formed in the rear flange 14b of the base section. The opposite end of the rod 87 is rigidly connected to the piston 89 of a fluid pressure motor 90. The piston 89 works in a ;cylinder .91 that is rigidly secured to the base section by a pair of brackets 92-92 which are suitably attached to the top 10b of the base section. The opposite ends of the cylinder 91 are connected with a suitable valve (not shown) respectively by pipe lines 9394, and this valve is connected to a suitable source of pressure supply (not shown) by a pipe line indicated at 95.

In order to constrict the opening 87a, a knob 96 of the valve is turned to a suitable position wherein fluid pressure from the pipe line 95 is introduced through the valve into the pipe line 94, from whence it enters the end of the cylinder 91 remote from the flange 11b of the base section, in consequence of which the: piston 89 retracts, drawing the rod 87 with it. The section 74 of the constricting device 72 is thereby rolled along the track members 7676 toward the stationary section 73, whereby the opening 87a is constricted.

In order to make the opening 87a larger, the knob 96 of the valve is turned to a diflerent suitable position wherein fluid pressure from the pipe line 95 is introduced through the valve into the pipe line 93, from whence it enters the end of the cylinder 91 proximate the flange 11b of the base section, in consequence of which the piston 89 is extended, pushing the rod 87 before it. The section 74 of the constricting device 72 is thereby rolled along the track members 7676 away from the section 73, whereby the opening 87a is enlarged.

It will be understood that when pressure is introduced into the end of the cylinder 91 remote from the flange 11b of the base section through the pipe line 94, pressure is automatically relieved at the end of the cylinder proximate the flange 11b of the base section through the pipe line 93, and when pressure is introduced into the end of the cylinder 91 proximate the flange 11b of the base section through the pipe line 93, pressure is automatically relieved at the end of the cylinder 91 remote from the flange 11b of the base section through the pipe line'94.

In the use of the apparatus, an untreated ham H, as shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 2, is placed upon the top of the base section b with its neck in the opening 87a between the sections 7374 of the device 72. The opening is now closed tightly about the neck of the ham in the manner described. Whereby, the ham neck or shank is exteriorly circumscribed and then circumambiently compressed substantially to seal the same against the passage of an injected curing liquid. Brine solution may now be injected into the vascular tract, at the 'free or butt end of the ham as for example by means of the pickling needle and hose L also shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 2. After a suitable lapse of time, the opening is enlarged, in the manner described, and the treated ham is removed from the apparatus and replaced by an untreated ham. It will be observed that, apart from manipulating the valve that controls the fluid pressure, the operator is not required to exert himself physically in the operation of closing or constricting the opening about the neck of the untreated ham, maintaining the opening in constricted condition while the ham is being treated and enlarging the opening for releasing the treated ham for removal from the apparatus.

It will be understood, of course that the present invention as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In an apparatus for constricting the neck or shank portion of a ham or other meat product preparatory to injecting the ham with-curing liquid, a base member'having a horizontally disposed supporting surface for the ham, a pair of upright rigid plate sections extending across the rear of said base member in parallel relation to one another, the edges of said plate sections being provided with opposed recesses conjointly forming an opening between said plate sections of such size and so elevated above the supporting surface of the base member that the ham shank is freely accommodated therein while the main body portion of the ham rests upon the base member in front of said plate sections, means fixedly mounting a first of said plate sections on said base member, a pair of parallel channel shaped track members mounted on said first plate section, a plurality of rollers mounted on the second of said plate sections and riding in said track members, said track members including means for retaining said rollers in assembled relationship with said track members, and means for shiftably moving said second plate section relative to said first plate section as guided by said cooperating track members and rollers thereby to vary the size of said opening for constrictively engaging the ham shank and closing the vascular tract thereof.

2. The method of treating hams comprising the steps of squeezing the body of the ham shank by applying primary compressional forces in shearing relation to the exterior of the body of the ham shank at diametrically opposed sides thereof and along narrow zones respectively disposed in closely adjoining parallel planes relatively ofiset lengthwise of the ham shank and extending transversely of and spaced circumferentially about the periphery of the ham shank, limiting the radial distortion of the body of the ham shank in response to said :primary forces to thereby induce secondary forces exerted radially inwardly circumarnbiently about the body of the ham shank to effectively close the vascular tract of the ham against the passage of liquid therethrough, the compressional forces so applied to the ham shank being effective to circumferentially indent the same exclusively in the region of said narrow zones while portions of the ham shank on opposite sides of and immediately adjoining said circumferential indentation longitudinally of the ham shank are maintained free of any support, and then injecting a curing liquid into said vascular tract from the butt end of said ham, whereby the passage of said liquid out of theshank end of said vascular tract is substantially prevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 80,665 Reddy Aug. 4, 1869 501,973 Umbenhauer July 25, 1893 759,451 Kurlfinke Aug. 17, 1903 941,543 Spinka Nov. 30, 1909 1,070,049 Machava Aug. 12, 1913 11,331,227 Baines et a1 Feb. 17, 1920 1,894,156 Byington Jan. 10, 1933 1,994,459 Beisser l Mar. 19, 1935 2,088,257 Beisser July 27, 1937 2,242,487 Swanson May 20, 1941 2,289,597 Seat July 14, 1942 

2. THE METHOD OF TREATING HAMS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SQUEEZING THE BODY OF THE HAM SHANK BY APPLYING PRIMARY COMPRESSIONAL FORCES IN SHEARING RELATION TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BODY OF THE HAM SHANK AT DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF AND ALONG NARROW ZONES RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN CLOSELY ADJOINING PARALLEL PLANES RELATIVELY OFFSET LENGTHWISE OF THE HAM SHANK AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE HAM SHANK, LIMITING THE RADIAL DISTORTION OF THE BODY OF THE HAM SHANK IN RESPONSE TO SAID PRIMARY FORCES TO THEREBY INDUCE SECONDARY FORCES EXERTED RADIALLY INWARDLY CIRCUMAMBIENTLY ABOUT THE BODY OF THE HAM SHANK TO EFFECTIVELY CLOSE THE VASCULAR TRACT OF THE HAM AGAINST THE PASSAGE OIF LIQUID THERETHROUGH, THE COMPRESSIONAL FORCES SO APPLEID TO THE HAM SHANK BEING EFFECTIVE TO CIRCUMFERENTIALLY INDENT THE SAME EXCLUSIVELY IN THE REGION OF SAID NARROW ZONES WHILE PORTIONS OF THE HAM SHANK ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF AND IMMEDIATELY ADJOINING SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL INDENTATION LONGITUDINALLY OF THE HAM SHANK ARE MAINTAINED FREE OF ANY SUPPORT, AND THEN INJECTING A CURING LIQUID INTO SAID VASCULAR TRACT FROM THE BUTT END OF SAID HAM, WHEREBY THE PASSAGE OF SAID LIQUID OUT OF THE SHANK END OF SAID VASCULAR TRACT IS SUBSTANTIALLY PREVENTED. 